San Francisco Man Sentenced To Seven Years In Federal Prison For Bank Robbery And Carjacking

SAN FRANCISCO - James Michael Garrison was sentenced yesterday to 84 months (7 years) in federal prison for a series of bank robberies and a carjacking that occurred in late 2024 and early 2025 in the Northern District of California. U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin handed down the sentence.

Garrison was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 17, 2025. Garrison pleaded guilty on February 12, 2026, to three counts of bank robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a), and one count of carjacking in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2119(1).

According to the plea agreement and other documents filed in the case, beginning in December 2024, Garrison embarked on a spree of bank robberies in Rohnert Park, California, and San Francisco, California. Garrison robbed banks in Rohnert Park on December 5, 2024, and January 2, 2025. During those robberies, he demanded cash and threatened to shoot the tellers. Garrison robbed another bank in San Francisco on December 27, 2024, during which he held a knife in his hand and threatened to shoot "everybody." In total, he stole approximately $20,000 from the three banks.

Following Garrison's third bank robbery, he was spotted by San Francisco Police Officers in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. Garrison fled from officers and carjacked a rideshare driver in an attempt to escape. While in the car's backseat, Garrison pulled out a black knife shaped like a handgun and held the weapon to the driver's head and threatened to shoot him.

Garrison initially refused to leave the car and resisted arrest.

Garrison has been in custody since his arrest in 2025. He will begin serving his prison term immediately. In addition to the prison term, Judge Lin also ordered Garrison to serve 3 years of supervised release that will begin after his term of imprisonment.

United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble made the announcement.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sophia Cooper with the assistance of Soana Katoa. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the San Francisco Police Department.